Curzon Ashton 1 Darlington 3

Lees 32 mins 0-1, Lewis 62 mins 1-1 Hatfield 75 mins, 1-2, Nelson 90+5 1-3

Quakers recorded back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a fully-deserved  victory at the Tameside Stadium.

After taking a first half lead through Toby Lees, they missed several chances, allowing Curzon to equalise just after the hour.

But a goal of the season contender from Will Hatfield put Quakers back in front, and Andrew Nelson made sure in stoppage time.

Here's the reaction and the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-from-midweek-win-at-curzon

Quakers had a chance on 4 minutes when Matty Cornish turned quickly 30 yards out and threaded the ball through for Mitch Curry, who took a touch and was then blocked by Curzon keeper  Cameron Mason.

Quakers had another chance when Ben Liddle put Curry through, but again Mason stopped him.

Curzon striker Jimmy Spencer played a 1-2 about 25 yards out to create a shooting chance for himself, but he sidefooted straight at Matty Young.

Cedric Main then tried to force his way through on the edge of the area, but after beating one man, was stopped by a second.

Quakers nearly scored on 18 minutes. Cornish won the ball on the right and played the ball across to Ben Liddle, whose low shot took a deflection and went for a corner.

That led to a second corner on the opposite side, which eventually saw Hedley play the ball to Kallum Griffiths, who hit a right foot shot that Mason saved at full stretch.

Curzon nearly scored on 26 minutes. A left wing corner came into the Darlington box,  and Jamie Allen, who had just come on as sub, headed towards the bottom left corner where Young managed to push the ball around the post.

But Quakers returned to the attack and had another chance when Liddle played Curry into the box, but a defender just managed to get a tackle in as he was about to shoot.

Quakers took the lead from the corner on 33 minutes. Cornish hoisted the ball over to the far post where Toby Lees came charging in and headed firmly into the roof of the net – the second time he has scored against Curzon this season, and his third in total.

Curzon responded with a chance for Spencer, who put a right foot shot wide from ten yards.

Quakers went down the other end and missed a great chance for a second, when they won possession inside the Curzon final third, and Matty Cornish set up Liddle who put his effort over the bar from ten yards.

HT 0-1

The second half started with a great cross by Kallum Griffiths from the right into the middle where Liddle and Mason collided, with the keeper needing treatment to a leg injury.

Quakers kept working hard and denied Curzon space. They nearly created a chance when Main and Liddle and sent Curry away, but Liddle’s pass was too far.

Quakers made a change on 57 minutes, Jarrett Rivers coming on for Liddle.

Curzon then made two changes, Hughes and Lewis coming on for Campbell and Mols.

On the resumption, Griffiths crossed into the box for Curry, who controlled the ball with his back to goal, but couldn’t get his shot on target.

But Curzon levelled on 62 minutes, when Lewis, who had just come on as sub, turned quickly and beat Young with a right foot shot into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.

Quakers then had to make a change, with Scott Barrow going off with an elbow injury, so Andrew Nelson came on, and Tom Platt went to centre back. Cameron Salkeld also came on for Curry.

They had a let off when Spencer won possession on the right, ran into the area, but Young saved at the foot of his post.

Quakers regained the lead with a superb goal on 75 minutes. Cornish played the ball in from the left for Hatfield to take a touch and hit a screamer from 25 yards that flew into the top left corner! His sixth of the season.

Main then sent Salkeld away, but his low shot was comfortably saved.

Curzon then won a free kick on the left on 85 minutes, but Platt headed the ball away, and when the ball came back into the Darlington area, Lewis volleyed over.

Young then won a corner with a mighty clearance that Curzon put out, and that allowed Quakers to take their time.

Another huge Young clearance saw Salkeld get away, and again Mason denied him.

And it was 3-1 in stoppage time when Nelson broke away from another Cornish pass -- Cornish had three assists to his name -- and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to complete a great win for Quakers, and put them just three points behind the fifth bottom club.

Full time 1-3

Darlington: Young, Griffiths, Lees, Barrow (sub Nelson 63), Hedley, Platt, Liddle (sub Rivers 57), Hatfield, Cornish, Curry (sub Salkeld 63), Main

Subs: Ngandu, Lindley

Booking: Hatfield, Cornish, Rivers, Salkeld

Curzon: Mason, Poscha, Matthews (sub Allen 24), Sinclair, Campbell (sub Hughes 60), Spencer, Hayhurst, Waring, Mols (sub Lewis 60) Richards, Barton

Subs: Kenyon, Mahon

Bookings: Mason, Hayhurst